The 54th Grammy's - Nikita's Picks

The 54th Grammy Awards are set to be presented in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 12.  Our music writers have combed through the categories and made their predictions on winners in the major categories.  During this Grammy week, you will get to read five different view points on who we think will win and who we wish would win.   While each writer has a particular area of expertise, we have all covered the same categories.  Just like the Academy would. Today, we continue with Nikita, our Country and Adult Contemporary expert.

 

Record of the Year

Who Will Win: "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele

Was there a bigger record than this during the past year? I don’t think so. Every time I turned on the radio, it was there...and I never complained. “Rolling in the Deep” became an anthem for anyone who has been on the wrong end of a breakup.

 

Album of the Year

Who Will Win: 21 - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: 21 - Adele

The past year belonged to Adele. She’s a Grammy darling and the album is stellar.  

 

Song of the Year

Who Will Win: "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele 

Who I Think Should Win: "Rolling in the Deep" - Adele

Once again, I’m going with Adele and her chart-topping anthem. It’s a well-crafted song that so many people just loved. Don't question her dominance...just go with it. 

 

Best New Artist

Who Will Win: Bon Iver

Who I Think Should Win: The Band Perry

I’ve gotta go with my country peeps representin’ in this category even if the Grammy voters won't. Country hasn’t had a fantastic track record for winning Best New Artist – only LeAnn Rimes and Zac Brown Band have claimed the trophy – but The Band Perry excites me. I can’t wait to see what’s next for them...and isn’t that what you want in a Best New Artist winner?

Look for the resident "offbeat" artist to take this one home...its Esperanza Spalding all over again.

 

Best Pop Solo Performance

Who Will Win: "Someone Like You" - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: "Someone Like You" - Adele

Adele sings circles around these folks in my opinion. She really nails this performance. You can feel the ache in her voice. 

 

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

Who Will Win: "Body & Soul" - Tony Bennett & Amy Winehouse

Who I Think Should Win: "Moves Like Jagger" - Maroon 5 with Christina Aguilera

Although I love “Moves Like Jagger,” its seems a little low-brow for Grammy voters. It’s hard to bet against Tony here because the Grammy folks sure do love him.

 

Best Pop Vocal Album

Who Will Win: 21 - Adele

Who I Think Should Win: 21 - Adele

Once again, Adele is the one to beat. I’m sorry...I just love her.  

 

Best Rock Performance

Who Will Win: No clue.

Who I Think Should Win: "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons

I’m more of a Mumford & Sons girl myself because they have a “rootsy” element going for them. 

 

Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance

Who Will Win: I don't know.

Who I Think Should Win: "White Limo" - Foo Fighters

Honestly, hard rock and metal music just sounds like noise to me, so I'm going with the one band name I recognize - Foo Fighters.

 

Best Rock Song

Who Will Win: Not sure.

Who I Think Should Win: "The Cave" - Mumford & Sons

I wasn’t a huge fan of the Coldplay song (their Vida la Vida material was more compelling to me than their latest stuff), so I’m going with “The Cave.”

 

Best Rock Album

Who Will Win: I haven't the foggiest idea.

Who I Think Should Win: Wasting Light - Foo Fighters

People seem to love them, so they’re my pick. 

 

Best Alternative Music Album

Who Will Win: Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Who I Think Should Win: Torches - Foster the People

I really don’t know who would most likely win this one, but I’ve heard a lot of buzz around Bon Iver so I’m thinking he probably will win. Foster the People had a big year with “Pumped Up Kicks.” So many people were talking about them when that song hit, so I think they should get the nod.

 

Best R&B Performance

Who Will Win: "Is This Love" - Corinne Bailey Rae

Who I Think Should Win: "Is This Love" - Corinne Bailey Rae

The Grammy voters seem to love her...and she’s the only artist name in this category that I recognize.

Best R&B Song

Who Will Win: "Fool For You" - Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona

Who I Think Should Win: “Fool For You” - Cee Lo Green & Melanie Fiona

I know Cee Lo's music and he seems to put out cool stuff, so I’m going with him. 

Best R&B Album

Who Will Win: F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown

Who I Think Should Win: F.A.M.E. - Chris Brown

Once again, I have no idea who to select here. I’ve seen Chris Brown perform a few times this past year. There seems to be a little more goodwill flowing his way after that whole Rihanna debacle. 
 

 

Best Rap Performance

Who Will Win: "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Who I Think Should Win: "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Tapping some Otis Redding for your song is always a good move in my book.

 

Best Rap/Sung Collaboration

Who Will Win: "All of the Lights" - Kanye West, Rihanna & Kid Cudi

Who I Think Should Win: "What's My Name" - Rihanna & Drake

I loved “What’s My Name” when it came out. Rihanna and Drake sound fantastic together.  

 

Best Rap Song

Who Will Win: "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West

Who I Think Should Win:  "Otis" - Jay-Z & Kanye West 

This was a pretty neat tune, so I’m sticking with “Otis.” Plus, Kanye and Jay-Z are two of rap’s heavyweights. It seems like an epic pairing to me.

 

Best Rap Album

Who Will Win: Pink Friday - Nicki Minaj

Who I Think Should Win: My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West

I know that Pink Friday was a huge album for Nicki Minaj, so she might end up with this one. However, when Kanye’s album came out, I heard a lot of people say that it was pretty amazing.  

 

Best Country Solo Performance

Who Will Win: "I'm Gonna Love You Through It" - Martina McBride

Who I Think Should Win: "Dirt Road Anthem" - Jason Aldean

Jason Aldean pushed the boundaries here with this “rap” country song. At first, I was a little unsure and all being the country traditionalist that I am, but he eventually won me over when I found myself randomly singing the chorus. 

Martina is kind of a safe pick here. You can always count on her to be stellar vocally, and “I’m Gonna Love You Through It” is a very powerful song that’s fits solid in her wheelhouse.  

 

Best Country Duo/Group Performance

Who Will Win: "Don't You Wanna Stay" – Jason Aldean with Kelly Clarkson

Who I Think Should Win: "You and Tequila" - Kenny Chesney with Grace Potter

The obvious choice here is “Don’t You Wanna Stay.” It was a massive country hit and it crossed over, but I’m going with “You and Tequila.” The vocal performance is gorgeous and haunting and it just kind of sticks with you long after you hear it. 

 

Best Country Song

Who Will Win: "Threaten Me with Heaven" - Vince Gill

Who I Think Should Win: "Threaten Me with Heaven"- Vince Gill

In the world of the Grammy Awards, Vince Gill is vote bait. He has won so many of these things, so I’m going with him. If you haven’t heard “Threaten Me with Heaven,” check it out. It’s a game-changer and definitely deserving of this award. Powerful stuff.

 

Best Country Album

Who Will Win: Own the Night - Lady Antebellum or Speak Now - Taylor Swift

Who I Think Should Win: Chief - Eric Church

It’s hard to go wrong choosing most of these albums. The Grammys love Taylor and Lady Antebellum should either one of those acts will probably win, but for me, Eric Church’s Chief was one of the best things to come out of Nashville last year. It’s fun, rowdy and pushes the boundaries especially sonically.

I love that Eric makes records fearlessly and that he finally found a way to walk the lines between critical acclaim and mainstream success without selling out.
 

 

 

 

Nikita Palmer (@RTNowRadio) for Right Now Radio © 2012

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